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Elsevier

Sustainability in Waste Management: An Engineering Perspective

  • 1st Edition - January 1, 2027
  • Latest edition
  • Authors: Shailendra Kumar Shukla, Ajay Kumar Mishra, Vikash Kumar Chauhan
  • Language: English

The world is witnessing an unprecedented rise in solid, liquid, and hazardous waste due to rapid urbanization, industrialization, and shifting consumption patterns. Inadequate… Read more

Description

The world is witnessing an unprecedented rise in solid, liquid, and hazardous waste due to rapid urbanization, industrialization, and shifting consumption patterns. Inadequate infrastructure, inefficient segregation, and minimal resource recovery continue to pose critical threats to public health, ecosystems, and climate goals. There is an urgent global need for sustainable, technology-driven solutions that transform waste into a valuable resource. Sustainability in Waste Management: An Engineering Perspective presents a comprehensive framework for integrating environmental engineering, renewable energy, digital innovation, and circular economy principles into modern waste management. It blends theory with real-world applications, drawing insights from diverse regions, including both developed and developing countries. Structured across nine chapters, the book covers:
  • Core concepts such as waste classification, characterization, landfilling, and decentralized wastewater treatment
  • Resource recovery from organic, biomedical, and food waste
  • Renewable-powered systems such as solar dryers and PV-based waste handling
  • Emerging technologies like hydrogen production, energy storage, carbon capture, and AI-enabled waste monitoring
The book aligns with key global targets such as the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) particularly SDG 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation), SDG 7 (Affordable and Clean Energy), and SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities). Intended for engineers, researchers, urban planners, and policymakers, this book offers scalable, adaptable, and technically sound solutions to modern waste challenges. It aims to catalyze a transition toward cleaner, smarter, and more resilient waste management systems worldwide.

Key features

  • Interdisciplinary Approach with Real-World Applications: The book merges concepts from environmental engineering, renewable energy, material science, and digital technologies (AI, IoT) to present unified solutions
  • Modular Chapter Design for Structured Learning and Practical Reference: Each chapter is designed with clear sub-sections covering theory, process mechanisms, technologies, and case studies
  • Global Perspective with Case Studies and SDG Alignment: Features international case studies, technology comparisons, and policy insights, linking local actions to global sustainability goals (SDG 6, 7, and 11)

Readership

Undergraduate and postgraduate students in environmental engineering, civil and chemical engineering, urban planning, and environmental science; Ph.D. researchers focusing on waste-to-energy systems, decentralized treatment, resource recovery, and AI-driven monitoring; Also suitable for faculty and course designers teaching solid waste management, wastewater engineering, and sustainability; Environmental engineers, consultants, sustainability officers, and urban infrastructure planners working on circular economy projects, renewable integration, and smart waste systems; Startups and technology developers in climate tech, AI, and energy storage

Table of contents

1. Fundamentals of Solid Waste Management

2. Greywater and Blackwater Treatment Technologies

3. Resource Recovery and Circular Economy from Organic Waste

4. Biomedical and Food Waste Management

5. Solar-Powered Solutions in Waste Management

6. Hydrogen and Bioenergy Production from Waste

7. Energy Storage Technologies in Waste Management

8. Carbon Capture and Utilization from Waste Systems

9. AI-Based Monitoring and Optimization in Waste Systems

Product details

  • Edition: 1
  • Latest edition
  • Published: January 1, 2027
  • Language: English

About the authors

SS

Shailendra Kumar Shukla

Shailendra Kumar Shukla is currently a Professor in Indian Institute of Technology, Varanasi, India. He was the former Pro-Vice Chancellor of Ranchi University and has worked in the field of Thermal Engineering and Renewable Energy Technology since last 22 years. He is founder Coordinator of Centre For Energy and Resources Development (CERD), IIT(BHU) and Coordinator of CST UP Incubation Centre for Grass-Root Innovators at Mechanical Engineering Department, IIT(BHU), Varanasi. He completed his Masters in Energy Studies and Ph.D. in Solar Thermal Engineering at Indian Institute of Technology, Delhi, India. He is a recognized guide for M.Tech. and Ph. D. in Thermal and Energy Engineering in Indian Institute of Technology (Banaras Hindu University), Uttar Pradesh Technical University, Lucknow and NITTTR, Chandigarh. He has developed research Collaborations with Asian Institute of Technology, Bangkok, University of Leeds, UK and University of Technology, Mauritius, GIFU University, Japan in the field of Thermal Engineering and Renewable Energy Technology. He is a Visiting Professor under MHRD Govt. of India, Secondment to Asian Institute of Technology, Bangkok and University of Technology, Mauritius. He has delivered number of invited talks in International conferences/symposiums/ workshops on various issues in the field of Renewable Energy and Alternate Fuel Technologies. He is a member of Post Graduate and Research Committee, Mechanical Engineering Department IIT (BHU), Varanasi since October 2013. He was also nominated as Principal Member of Expert Group in Mechanical Engineering Sectional Committees (MED-39) and MED-04, of Bureau of Indian Standard (BIS), Govt. of India, New Delhi.
Affiliations and expertise
Professor, Indian Institute of Technology, Varanasi, India

AM

Ajay Kumar Mishra

Ajay Kumar Mishra is Professor at the Nanotechnology and Water Sustainability Research Unit at College of Science, Engineering & Technology, University of South Africa, Florida Science Campus, South Africa and also a “Fellow” member at “Royal Society of Chemistry” UK. He received his M. Phil. and Ph.D. degrees in 2003 and 2007, respectively, from The University of Delhi, India. In addition, he was appointed as “Senior Lecturer” in October 2009 at the Department of Applied Chemistry, University of Johannesburg, South Africa where he was promoted to “Associate Professor” in November 2011 until December 2014. Recently, he was appointed by University of South Africa as “Full Professor” since January 2015. He is also working as “Adjunct Professor” at Jiangsu University, China. He has also developed a number of collaborations worldwide. He also served as Associate Editor as well as member of the editorial board of many peer-reviewed international journals. He is also serving as member advisory board of a number of international scientific societies, conferences and workshops. His research interest involves in the broader areas of Nanoscience/Nanotechnology; Materials Science; Polymers; Composite/Nanocomposites; Photocatalysts and Water Research. He is also actively involved in the area of nanotechnology towards the development of smart materials for various applications in the field of materials science and water research. He supervises students involved in the nanotechnology and water treatment research in projects involving finding treatments on organic, inorganic pollutants using synthetic and wastewater solutions.

Affiliations and expertise
Department of Chemistry, Durban University of Technology, Durban, South Africa

VC

Vikash Kumar Chauhan

Vikash Kumar Chauhan is an Institute Postdoctoral Fellow (IPDF) at IIT Bombay, India. He was awarded Ph.D. degree from Mechanical Engineering Department, IIT (BHU) in Oct 2023. With thermal engineering expertise in his domain, he has extensive experimental and theoretical work experience on solar energy-based desalination systems, thermal energy storage (PCM), ORC cycle based system and gasifiers. He has obtained his M.Tech from NIT, Jalandhar, where he has developed a roof top parabolic concentrator for solar thermal energy storage (PCM) in a novel designed system for water heating. After teaching for one month at Government Polytechnic Gorakhpur, he joined Nanostructures Engineering and Modeling (NEMO) group on Dec 2023, as a Senior Research Fellow in the Water Innovation Centre: Technology, Research & Education Lab (WICTRE lab), Micro-Electro-Mechanical Systems (MEMS) department at IIT Bombay.
Affiliations and expertise
Institute Postdoctoral Fellow (IPDF), IIT Bombay, India